Following 12 months of secret development and testing, motorsport specialist Prodrive has revealed a 1967 Ford Mustang desert racer.
Commissioned by historic rally events company HERO-ERA, the pony car combines classic styling with state-of-the-art Prodrive technology.
The Mustang HERO-ERA 1 is designed to cope with the world’s toughest off-road endurance competitions, and was unveiled at the Bicester Heritage Flywheel event.
Prodrive has four decades of motorsport experience, having built multiple World Rally Championship-winning cars. The company also has created off-road vehicles and successful GT racing machines.
The Ford Mustang is the first American car developed by the Banbury-based outfit. Starting with a rusting shell, the 1967 Mustang Fastback was subjected to an intensive restoration process.
As part of this, the HERO-ERA 1 was tested extensively in varied conditions. It can operate reliably at temperatures ranging from -10 deg C to more than 40 deg C. The aim is to compete in events such as Peking to Paris Motor Challenge, which covers nearly 9,000 miles.
Powering the Mustang is a 5.4-litre Ford Windsor V8 that produces a substantial 400hp. The engine has been designed for durability and performance, and is fed by a 70-gallon fuel tank with a 400-mile range.
A Tremec TKX five-speed transmission with overdrive is fitted, along with a heavy-duty rear axle with a 9-inch limited-slip differential.
Underbody protection was inspired by Prodrive’s Dakar experience, along with upgraded suspension designed to cope with the roughest terrain.
Tomas de Vargas Machuca, chairman of HERO-ERA, said: “I am blown away by the car. I am so happy with the result – although it nearly didn’t happen. I originally asked David Richards to see if Prodrive could do anything with our old Mustang. At first he wasn’t sure, as it was a bit of a departure, but then thankfully he came back with a positive reply.”
David Richards CBE, chairman of Prodrive, added: “This project started life a long time ago as a casual conversation with Tomas about my wife, Karen’s interest in taking part in the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge. The collaboration between Prodrive and HERO-ERA has resulted in a unique classic rally car specifically designed for the rigours of long-distance events.”
Further testing will be undertaken before the Ford Mustang HERO-ERA 1 enters the Badawi Trial, covering almost 5,000 miles through Jordan.
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